All cases

Desecration and vandalism of a chapel of the Virgin in Italy

September 22, 2022, Italy

During the night of September 22-23, individuals broke the bottom of the door of the Chapel of the Virgin, in Via della Riotta in Novara, in the Italian Piedmont, and removed the Stations of the Cross from the wall to throw the stations into the garden of the chapel. The parish priest, Fr. Massimo Volpatti, filed a complaint and reported the incident on social networks - this small 17th-century chapel has no video surveillance. He also celebrated a mass of reparation and strongly denounced "a profane, serious, sacrilegious act" in the local press.

Two Teenagers Smear The Walls and Door of a Historic Chapel in Konz

September 22, 2022, Germany

Two 13-year-olds vandalised and spray-painted a Chapel in Jeuchental, near Konz, on the 20th of September. As quoted by the police "The chapel had been heavily damaged with graffiti on three sides and on the entrance door. Facebook users raised their concerns and commented on the situation. The police has identified the vandals.

Religious building arsonist jailed in Russia

September 21, 2022, Russia

On September 21, a building belonging to the Russian Orthodox Church was set on fire in the Lomonosovo district of St. Petersburg. It turned out that the fire was arson. A 20-year-old man was arrested and admitted to the crime - he said that he wanted to set fire to a nearby building where the registers of those who could be mobilized were kept - Russia had decreed a partial mobilization, which has since been completed, to call back 300,000 people who had done their military service - but he was in the wrong building. He was put in jail for two months while awaiting trial.

28-year-old Woman Arrested after Looting Cathedral's Sacristy in Gorizia for Non-Valuable but Scared Objects

September 21, 2022, Italy

On September 21, a woman broke into the sacristy of the cathedral of Gorizia, an Italian city in Friuli on the border with Slovenia, with keys stolen last week, and looted it. Nevertheless she was detected by the cathedral's video surveillance and arrested a few hundred meters away. In her bag were chalices, patens, a custode, a baptismal shell and other consecrated objects - but all in non-precious metal. As well as a bag with other keys of the cathedral.

New: Study Reveals 61% people feel Media Perpetrates Faith-Based Stereotypes

September 20, 2022, International

On the 20. September, a large-scale study was published by the Faith and Media Initiative (FAMI), which looks at the portrayal of faith and religion in the media. The study revealed there is a strong demand across the world for more news and media coverage about faith. It also shows that journalists and editors admit coverage of faith-related topics is rarely encouraged in the industry. The study had 9,000 respondents, including citizens, journalists, and editors from 18 countries and major religions. An important finding was that the general population feels that "media coverage can perpetuate faith-related stereotypes rather than protect against them."

Desecration of Shrine in Moldova

September 20, 2022, Moldova

A 45-year-old man, was arrested in Chisinau, Moldova, at the end of September for stealing two bronze crosses, as well as a large bust of the deceased, from a tomb in the Saint Lazarus cemetery. He intended to resell them for 40,000 Moldavian lei (around 2,000€) and caused a damage of 8,000 lei on the burial site (400€). In Moldova the desecration of graves is an aggravating cause - he faces up to three years of prison.

Church in Jaen Vandalized and Hosts Scattered on the Ground

September 19, 2022, Spain

The diocese of Jaén reported that on the 19. September, a robbery and a desecration took place in the parish church of Our Lady of Carmen. The perpetrators stole money from the lampstand and broke into the tabernacle. The consecrated hosts were scattered on the floor, which is what struck the community the most. The Bishop of Jaén, Monsignor Sebastián Chico Martínez, condemned the incident and asked all the parishes to worship a prayer of atonement during that week.

Destruction of Shrine in Sokółce

September 18, 2022, Poland

On September 18, the Sokolsk police received a report of damage to a shrine in Porajovo. The window of the shrine and the facade of the building were destroyed.

Extensive Arson to the chapel of Notre-Dame-de-Liesse in France

September 18, 2022, France

On September 18th, around 15:30 firefighters intervened after they received a report of flames escaping from the chapel of Our Lady of Liesse in Fleury d'Aude, where several fires were lit. Additionally, the church was vandalised with swastikas that were drawn onto the altar. The gendarmerie are still investigating to find the perpetrators.

Pro-abortion activists disrupt a mass in Switzerland

September 17, 2022, Switzerland

On September 17, 2022, a mass at the Sacred Heart Church in Brig, Switzerland was disrupted by two pro-abortion activists. It was the day before the March for Life in Switzerland, and the sermon of the priest Fr. Edi Arnold was about the protection of life.